APPCOR10768

• Permit No: C1981034
• IBM Index Class Name: Application Correspondence
• Doc Date: 3/11/1980
• Doc Name: GRAND MESA COAL SOILS BASELINE REQUIREMENTS
• From: MLR
• To: LINDA
• Media Type: D
• Archive: No

STATE OF COLORADO RICHARD D.M. Gavemm III III III IIIIIII III
DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES I ggg
Harris D. Snerman. Executive Director
MINED LAND RECLAMATION
723 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman Street
Denver, Colorado 80203 Tel. [phone]
Hamlet J. Barry, I I I,
D irector
March 11, 1980
T0: Linda
FROM: Roger
RE: Grand Mesa Coal - Soils Baseline Requirements
I will try to summarize my current best understandings of what will
be required to satisfy the baseline soil requirements of the final
regulations since there is little difference between interim and final
regulation and it's easier and less costly to do it once.
1. Undisturbed Areas
If there are any significant areas which have not been previously
disturbed which are to be surface disturbed as a part of the proposed
amendment, these areas should be identified by the applicant on a map
and these undisturbed soils should be characterized as to quantity and
quality. This will involve a few core holes per area to determine the
thickness of suitable topsoil and samples taken for analysis of pH, sodium
absorption ~atio, electrical conductivity and particle size analysis
for each undisturbed area. 'T~]]~'ZS analysis will cost approximately $16.00/
sample, if analyzed by the~C~fiS soil testing lab (1979 price list). The
number of inches of topsoil to be salvaged can be determined in consultation
with the SCS and the staff.
2. Previously disturbed areas
Obviously since this is an old underground mine, and topsoil was never
salvaged, we cannot expect a topsoil baseline study if no topsoil exists.
This would also hold true for any portions of the new amendment area
where no topsoil exists.
I understand that in many of these undisturbed areas are intermixed coal
fines and spoil materials. Therefore, we need to determine the suitability
of this disturbed area material as a plant growth medium. Because of the
variability of this mast,~ria1, I would suggest a composite sample for the
upper 1-2' for each s~C area identified on the affected area map and
(cont'd)